New Way to Test Embryos for Genetic Diseases

Genetic research has discovered some 15,000 diseases that travel through generations. Since 1989, it's been possible to screen embryos for 350 of these hereditary conditions, but the process takes almost a year and is very expensive. Now, British scientists are claiming a breakthrough, new testing that can detect almost all genetic diseases in just a few weeks. The new process, called "karyomapping," has been developed at London's Bridge Centre, a fertility clinic. The Director is Professor Alan Handyside.

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